Both teams of elements, and the gathered princess, couldn't contain the sense of joy they felt at seeing Burst Stream before them! They admitted the dragon wings were new, but that couldn't even be considered a legitimate complaint. Everyone was just so happy to have him back! . . . Well, almost everyone.
"Hey. . . that's the guy that fought us during that lightning storm!" Garble growled! "How does he know those guys?!"
"Idiot." Lightning Dust grumbled. "They said his name's Burst Stream! Aka: the leader of the Elements of Heroism. Is it any wonder he handed our butts to us that night?"
"I'd heard he had perished in the battle with Tirek." Lance said with a frown. "But it appears rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated at-" The Lancers froze when they heard Blitz Surge rising to his feet. If the growling they heard coming from Blitz wasn't enough to rattle them, the death glare in his eyes was more than enough to chill their blood. And that wasn't even taking the murderous aura he exuded with each step.
"No. . . " Blitz Surge growled as he stomped towards Burst Stream! "No, no, no, no! NO!" His eyes were filled with a mix of shock, anger and, oddly enough, fear. "NO! You can't be Burst Stream! There's no way you could possibly be that disgrace to heroism, and the one unworthy of being called Aether's son!"
"Says the guy who tried to imprison a baby." Burst Stream shot back as he handed Flurry Heart over to Cadence and Shining Armor. His gaze hardening as he locked eyes with Blitz and the Lancers! "I know the rest of your little band, but I've got no idea who you are. But at the same time, there's something that feels awfully familiar about you."
"Stand down, Blitz Surge!" Luna commanded! "Burst Stream has done you no wrong! There is no need to be hostile!"
"He attacked my men during the storm last night!" Blitz Surge snarled! His grip tightening around his katana! "And I demand satisfaction for making the Lancers look like fools!"
"Considering they were harassing Donut Joe just for charging them a bill like anyone else, they don't need much help looking foolish." Burst Stream retorted. "So, Blitz Surge, huh? From the company you're keeping, I wouldn't call you heroic at all. And why are you saying I'm not worthy to be called my dad's son? He loved me and raised me. It's not like you're a bastard like Shining Dawn."
"Oh, I am much more than the likes of him! And I am far superior to you brother!" Blitz Surge venomously spat the word brother like it was a curse at Burst Stream! "For I was made from father's essence itself! Though my birth was unnatural, my life is very much real! I have more of father in me than you or Shining Dawn ever had or ever will! I am Aether's TRUE son!"
"You might be made up of a part of my dad, but that doesn't make you his son." Burst Stream declared bluntly. Not faltering the slightest at Blitz's verbal assault! "Call me false and unworthy all you want. It doesn't change the fact that Dad raised me and loved me all the same. And your ranting doesn't change the fact that I'm back where I belong, and ready to lead the Elements of Heroism once more!"
"Heh. Heh heh! AH HA HA HA HA HA!" Blitz Surge howled in laughter! "Oh, perhaps your return is the key to my victory after all! How cruel that you've so clearly declared your purpose, and shall never fulfill it!"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Burst Stream asked as he raised an eyebrow in questioning. "Last time I checked, my friends were all here. In my eyes, that means the Elements of Heroism are still together and that Inferno did a great job carrying on after me!"
"Oh? You didn't know?" Blitz smirked. "I challenged Inferno to a little duel with leadership of your little band of pretenders as the prize! I won, and disbanded your group of pathetic excuses for heroes! Replacing them with the Lancers! And under us, justice shall be served!"
". . . " Burst Stream was deathly quiet and calm on the outside. However, within his core, he was absolutely pissed off. Blitz Surge had insulted him countless times to his face, but that wasn't what sparked Burst's fury. No, Blitz made the mistake of insulting his friends. 'How this creep beat Inferno is something I want to find out. And given how drunk he is off assuming his victory, now's the perfect chance. . . ' "So tell me. Was it an epic fight with neither of you giving in until you broke through by willpower?"
"Hah!" Blitz Surge scoffed! "As if I'd waste any effort on pretenders like you! My blade has been bestowed the power of harmony by the Tree of Harmony itself! Not even the gods can stand against it's power! To have such power at my command PROVES that I am worthy of being called Aether's son!"
"Then fight me." Burst Stream said. And the whole castle was silent. "If you say you're so much better and more worthy than me, prove it. Fight me for the right to be called a Son of Aether!"
"I need to prove nothing to you!" Blitz Surge snapped! "I have the power of harmony, and bested a god with it! You would be no challenge to me!"
"If you really think that, then why not crush me in front of everyone?" Burst Stream asked with a smirk. "Isn't that what you want? To show everyone how much you surpass me? If you think you can take me down so easy, why not show that you can? Or are am I not special enough for you to use your 'power' to defeat me?"
"No, you are quite special." Blitz Surge said with a murderous smile. "Very well then! We shall see who is worthy with a duel between us! As it was always meant to be! And I will finally erase the mistake that is you!"
"Not so fast." Burst held up his hand. "That's all well and good for you if you're the one who wins, but this can't be just for you. No, this has to have something more in it for me."
"Name your prize." Blitz Surge sneered. "It's not likely you'll be able to obtain it."
"Simple." Burst Stream smiled. "I want the Elements of Heroism re-established and recognized alongside the Lancers. Two groups of heroes are better than one."
"The world only needs one hero." Blitz Surge growled.
"And the world's done for if you're the only one." Burst quipped. "So, we gonna rumble or what?"
"Fine then." Blitz huffed. "But this will not be a fight. It will be a. . . how did it go again? Curbsto-...where are you going?!"
"Hm?" Burst paused as he was walking towards the exit. "What, you thought we'd fight in here? No way! We're taking this outside, buddy. Shining Armor! Tell your guards to clear out some space."
"Are you so sure in your defeat that you want to spare your friends the sight of me crushing you?" Blitz smirked arrogantly. "I couldn't blame you."
"Oh no. I want them and your cronies to get a front row seat for when I kick you ass in front of an entire empire." Burst replied. "Now can you move it along? I've wasted enough words on you."
And the pair of combatants headed outside. Fortunately, the guards had managed to quarantine the center of the empire. Leaving both Burst and Blitz significant room to let loose. The pair staring each other down with their hands hovering over their weapons! Blitz's hand hovering over his katana while Burst kept his hand over his blasters.
"You hold only ranged weaponry?" Blitz smirked as he charged at Burst! His sword drawn and ready to strike! "Fire all you like! It will not delay my advance!"
Burst said nothing as he whipped out his blasters, and started firing at Blitz Surge! As Blitz said, Burst's shots did not halt Blitz's advance much. However, Burst quickly formed an x-sign with his blasters to block the blade of Blitz's katana! And using one to force away the blade, Burst used the free blaster to fire at Blitz Surge! The Lancer leader rolling out of the way to avoid getting shot!
"You were able to match my blade with your guns?" Blitz said with a frown. "It appears there's more to you than meets the eye."
"Oh, I'm just full of surprises." Burst said as he holstered one of his blasters, and pulled back the hammer of the other and pushing the barrel upright! Pulling the trigger again, a blade of light shot out from the barrel of the blaster! The gun turning into a lightsaber! "Let's try this again!"
And Burst Stream leaped at Blitz Surge! Bringing the blade of his saber down hard against Blitz's katana! To his surprise, the blade wasn't cut clean off! But Burst had no time to ponder the blade's construction! He was more worried about blocking the swings of Blitz Surge! Sparks showering out from their blades as each of them parried and blocked the other's strikes!
'Tch! I've had enough of this! Time to alter the playing field!' Blitz thought with a frown as he broke away from Burst, and leaped to the top of a building! "It's over, Burst Stream! I have the high ground!" The only response from Burst was a blank stare followed by a smile. "Don't try it!"
Burst Stream leaped up towards Blitz Surge! Blitz smiled wickedly as he prepared to cut down Burst while he was airborne, but the sound of wings flapping and a brief gust of wind distracted Blitz! When his focus was regained, Blitz's eyes went wide when he saw Burst Stream hovering above him! His dragon wings flapping proudly in the sky!
"Keep it." Burst said with a smile. "I've got the sky!" And he dive-bombed Blitz Surge while striking with his lightsaber! Cutting Blitz at his shoulder! Wasting no time, Burst powered up his magic and fired a stream of lightning from his hands Shocking Blitz Surge and stunning the Lancer leader and leaving him wide open! Capitalizing on the opening he'd made, Burst shifted his lightsaber back into its blaster form and fired a charged shot! "Jackpot." The blast sent Blitz falling off the building and towards the ground! Burst Stream sighing.
"I don't like him." Burst said as he spread his wings and flew after Blitz Surge! "But I'm not just going to stand and let him die." And he caught Blitz Surge right as the ground was coming up! Burst Stream then tossed Blitz's unconscious body to the Lancers without a care. "Now THAT was satisfying. Keep in mind, I could've done this to ALL of you that night."
And the Lancers scooped up Blitz in a panic before running like all of Tartarus was at their heels. Burst watched them run with a grin on his face.
"Hmm." Burst scratched his head. "I can't help but feel like something's miss-Whoa!" Burst found himself being scooped up in Nightmare Moon's arms! The princess of dreams spinning around as she held her beloved! "Oh, yeah. That."
"You're back! You've really come back!" Nightmare Moon cried out in joy as happy tears fell from her eyes. "I have my precious light back!"
All the while, Celestia was looking at the couple with a wistful smile and a pained look in her eyes. One that Twilight immediately noticed.
"Celestia?" Twilight asked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm. . . fine, Twilight." Celestia said with a practiced smile before taking one last look at Burst and Moon together. "Just. . . fine. Let's go home to celebrate. After all, this is a happy occasion."